Our Essential Tips, Tools & Resources for Online Learning

In recent years, the rising popularity of online learning has transformed education, offering learners greater options and flexibility in how they choose to study. However, despite the many benefits that online learning offers, it's not without its fair share of challenges.

From swerving endless distractions to troubleshooting technical difficulties, succeeding as a distance learner typically requires a high level of effort and discipline - though the same could be said regardless of the learning modality you choose.

That said, in this blog, we explore our top tips, tools and resources for online learning that can help you thrive, enabling you to stay focused on your goals.

Online Study Tips 

1) Establish a dedicated study space

The very first thing to do is locate and establish a dedicated study space free from distractions, that will keep you productive and focused. 

With online learning providing you the convenience to study from any location, including your own home, it can be detrimental to the success of your studies if you don't have a quiet space to study from.

It’s best to find an area of your house with menial background noise, where you can set up a desk, emulating a typical learning setting. By having a designated study area, you can help train your brain to associate that space with learning and staying focused.

Make sure you have a comfortable chair which supports good posture to prevent fatigue and discomfort and make sure to keep your space tidy and clutter-free, clearing away any unnecessary items that could be a distraction.

2) Create a realistic study schedule

Choosing to study online automatically removes the structure that comes along with traditional classroom setting, so it’s essential that you create a study schedule with weekly study times and upcoming deadlines. 

Try to determine how much time you need to dedicate to the course(s) you’re studying. Be realistic with what you can achieve each day alongside your other commitments, without putting too much pressure on yourself. 

An effective way to approach this could be breaking up your study sessions into smaller, more manageable blocks, scheduling them throughout your week and at times your most focused and energised. 

Try to stick to your schedule as much as possible, but remember to also remain flexible. Things come up all the time that are outwith our control, so adjust your schedule where needed to accommodate those instances. 

3) Develop effective time management skills

Time management is crucial for any type of learning, but especially online learning. There’s also always the risk of procrastination when you’re studying remotely, so managing your time and defining what tasks and deadlines should be prioritised is crucial. 

If you’re enrolled on an online learning course that has live-streamed or recorded classes, also make sure you set time aside to attend or watch these sooner rather than later so you don’t fall behind. 

Finally, daily to-do lists are also a great way to stay on track and accountable for your progress, giving you a sense of achievement and satisfaction when you tick off completed tasks.

With good time management, you’ll be able to plan your study schedule around your life, and not the other way around.

4) Familiarise yourself with your learning platform

It goes without saying that online learning is a tech-heavy approach to education, so you’ll need to know your way around the software and systems you’ll be using throughout your course. 

Familiarise yourself with where you can access your course material, or how you’ll attend your virtual classes - and make sure you know where everything is and how it’s accessed before the course’s starting date. 

Moreover, don’t hesitate to follow any necessary tutorials from your learning provider, or even reach out to your learning provider if you have any technical difficulties. 

5) Don’t be afraid to reach out

Continuing from the previous point, remember that your professors, lecturers or tutors are there to answer any questions and clarify any discrepancies you may have, so don’t be afraid to reach out to them.

Treat your online learning as you would in-person classrooms, where you get to ask lecturers questions directly to get a definite answer. 

Above all, you can also contact your professor for advice or guidance on post-academic development and tips on skills you can work on to further support your career and professional future.

6) Actively participate in online discussions

While showing up to class and reviewing the course material is crucial for your success, don’t forget that learning is a reciprocal process, so getting involved in discussions is also beneficial for your learning experience. 

Online discussions allow you to connect with your classmates, exchange ideas and gain different perspectives on the course material, which can prove invaluable. 

Check out online forums, social media platforms or chat groups that are dedicated to your course and don’t be afraid to seek support or ask questions. Chances are that other people also have the same queries as you, so through collaboration with one another, you can further learn and develop while building a supportive community.

7) Avoid burnout at all costs

Oftentimes, when you’re responsible for your own schedule, it’s easy to overwork yourself and lose the balance between the time you devote to your studies and your personal life. While you must remain dedicated and focused to succeed, it’s equally important to take regular breaks to avoid burnout.

Include many short breaks into your study schedule, where you can step away from your screen for a few minutes to recharge and relax.

Taking on a course or qualification can be intense and demanding, which is why remembering to prioritise your wellbeing is crucial. In fact, according to The Wellbeing Thesis, micro-breaks have “shown to have a positive relationship with wellbeing and productivity”, ultimately boosting your performance. 

Be mindful of your limits to achieve long-term success! 

8) Set achievable goals and recognise your wins

Having achievable goals is one of the biggest motivators when it comes to online learning. Sometimes, the course material can seem endless and the journey towards achieving your end goal appears longer than it is. However, it’s key that you remain disciplined and accountable.

Splitting up your course into smaller, measurable goals to work towards can make it appear more manageable (e.g., each module as a goal). And don’t forget to recognise and celebrate every achievement along the way!

This will help keep you motivated and focused on your next milestone, rather than feeling suffocated by the larger goal, which may sometimes seem too out of reach in the present moment.

Study Tools & Resources 

If you want to be successful at studying, it’s important to leverage online study tools to stay organised and motivated. There are countless digital resources available to help you in a variety of areas, including:

Organisation:

• Trello: Perhaps one of the most popular task management apps, the Trello workspace is easy to navigate, allowing you to organise your project into three different elements: board, lists and cards.
• Todoist: Stay on-top of your studies with Todoist. This app allows you to create tasks and subtasks, while also enabling you to set deadlines, priorities and recurring dates to help you track your productivity and keep you organised.

Note Taking: 

• Microsoft OneNote: One of the best note-taking apps available, Microsoft’s OneNote allows users to take handwritten notes, record audio or video notes, search within their notes, as well as cross-platform syncing to help streamline all relevant material. 
• Evernote: Intended for archiving and creating notes with embedded links, photos or audio, Evernote allows you to store your notes in virtual notebooks which can be annotated, searched, edited and exported, making it the perfect note-taking app for students working on assignments. 

Time Management

• Clockwise: AI powered time management app Clockwise automatically optimises your calendar, also scheduling Focus Time, to help reduce distraction and increase your productivity, while keeping your schedule organised. 
• MyStudyLife: The perfect app for students, MyStudyLife allows you to store your class schedule, track assignments, and set reminders for deadlines and exam dates. Along with that, you can sync this app across all your devices to check your schedule at any time, from anywhere. 
• Stay Focused: Is procrastinating keeping you from achieving your goals? Stay Focused allows you to block access to certain apps and social media platforms to reduce your usage. With a do-not-disturb timer, screen time tracker and a reminder to focus, this app helps keep you accountable, as well as reading distractions. 

Goal Setting & Motivation

• Strides: With the flexibility to choose between various goal-tracking methods, Strides enables you to set long-term goals, with percentage complete sliders, as well as the option to track good or bad habits, to help you build a healthy routine. 
• Habitica: Turn your online learning into a fun video game with Habitica. This app gamifies your to-do list and lets you create avatars, or buy avatar upgrades, that can grow stronger through task completion. 

In conjunction with our essential online study tips, leveraging online study tools and resources will help you stay confident and on track.

Online Learning: The New Way to Study 

Online learning requires organisation, dedication and balance like any other study method.

Approach your online studies just like you would in-person or blended learning; jump into discussions, make the most of your study tools, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when needed. Most importantly, put your wellbeing first and be mindful of burnout, so nothing gets in the way of your progress.   

You got this!

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